Golf swing controller

ABSTRACT

A swing controller comprises three parts: an attachment part for attachment to the handle of the golf club, a main part including a main cylinder with spike and supporting three antifriction bearing rings and club face scale, and a telescope part including a telescoping cylinder with groove and O-ring disposed at a lower end of the telescope part and a positioning part for check points for indicating the position of the club and disposed at the upper end of the telescope part. The telescope part is extendable and allows adaptation to short golf clubs, to medium golf clubs and to long golf clubs. An extended axis of the club shank is produced by attaching the swing controller onto the end of the club handle. This renders possible and produces an effective, visual control for all axial planes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a visualizing and swing controlling device for correct swinging guidance and holding of a golf club and is generally called a swing controller.

[0003] 2. Brief Description of the Background of the Invention Including Prior Art

[0004] There are two basic types of golf clubs, the purpose and handling of which differ. The clubs are used to strike the ball to send it flying through the air. To start the motion, the club is swung back, the club head defining a wide arch; the same holds true for the following strike where it is important that the club head have the proper speed and be followed through in a relaxed manner. The strike itself is an unstopped, highly complex motion. The other type of club is called putter and is exclusively used on the green for holing the ball, the latter moving along in a rolling motion. Its handling is such that the ball is pushed, the club movement, therefore, covering only a very short distance and having reduced speed.

[0005] The present invention relates to the first type of golf clubs, i.e. devices to strike the ball, sending it flying through the air.

[0006] For these as well as for putters, visualizing and swing controlling devices are known to make handling easier for golf players. As for putters, the following is known: U.S. Pat. No. 5,465,971 discloses a crutch-like bar which is inserted into the grip end of the putter, the free end of which is tucked under the shoulder of that arm from which putting is to be performed. U.S. Pat. No. 5,288,361 proposed a second grip for a putter which is pivotably mounted on the grip end and has a pivoting axis which extends in a direction perpendicular to putting and parallel to the ball driving surface. The putter is held with one hand on the second grip and left dangling, putting being carried out with the other hand on the grip. U.S. Pat. No. 4,789,158, DE-OS 3 720 054, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,262,705, 3,467,761 and 3,198,525 concern putters having sighting means mounted on the shaft near the head and used to sight the ball and to indicate the direction to the hole.

[0007] There are two potential errors occurring during swinging of a golf club—an insufficient and an excessive swing. When the swing is insufficient, the club shaft, as viewed from the grip to the clubhead, is pointed upwards, and downwards when the swing is excessive. Thus, in the first case, the clubhead—relative to the standing plane—is the highest part of the club, in the second case, the lowest. These errors are easily recognizable for persons observing the golf player, e.g. the instructor, but not easily recognizable for the player himself.

[0008] When the ball is hit, the club face, regardless of its angle to the player's standing plane, must lie in a plane perpendicular to the ball trajectory plane. This position is called neutral or “square” position. If it is less than 90⁰, it is called closed or “hook” position, and the ball, compared to the intended trajectory, veers towards the left. If, on the other hand, it is more than 90⁰, it is called open or “slice” position, and the ball veers toward the right.

[0009] When the club is swung prior to hitting the ball, grip errors, which lead to deviations from the square position, can only be recognized with great difficulty by golf instructors, and are virtually non-recognizable to the golf player.

[0010] UK Patent Application GB 2,321,601 teaches a golf swing monitor allowing a golfer to know where his swing will produce a stroke. The device of the British Printed Patent Document GB 2,321,601 is cumbersome to implement as it requires cutting off part of a viable golf club. Furthermore, it does not well adapt to golf clubs having different lengths or are especially made for ladies.

[0011] 2. Purposes of the Invention

[0012] It is an object of the present invention to construct a visualizing and swing controlling device allowing the golf player to detect swinging and gripping errors himself and capable of adjustment to the length of the golf club to which it is attached.

[0013] It is another object of the present invention to make golf practice lessons more effective and to generate much less disappointing practice sessions for the golf apprentices.

[0014] It is yet a further object of the present invention to allow a golf instructor to easily recognize gripping errors from a distance perpetrated by a golf apprentice.

[0015] It is yet another object of the present invention to furnish a simple device, which device is usable with any commercially available golf club.

[0016] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become evident from the description which follows.

[0017] 2. Brief Description of the Invention

[0018] The swinging golf is a flowing through, continuous and extremely harmonic motion of the overall body. The swinging golf can be analyzed and subdivided into four phases defined as reach back phase, preparatory hit phase, hitting phase and final phase or swing out phase.

[0019] During each of these phases errors can be generated, which will not become apparent without particular auxiliary means.

[0020] To meet all these requirements, the visualizing and swing controlling device of the invention features a rod to be attached to the grip end of the golf club, which rod, in its attached state, forms a rigid axial extension of the golf club and has longitudinal markings to indicate the angular position of the club face relative to the intended trajectory plane.

[0021] The swing controller of the present invention is a substantial improvement as compared to earlier constructions such presented with the swing controller furnished under the trademark “Golf-teaching-pro”.

[0022] The construction of the attachment of a conventional swing controller is furnished by an attachment sleeve having an inner cylinder. The outer diameter of the attachment sleeve is adapted to the inner diameter of the club shank.

[0023] For this purpose, conventionally the bottom end of the club handle is cut off in order to free the bore hole of the shank of the club. This conventional procedure was associated with a destruction of the handle, which is not an attractive idea in a practical situation.

[0024] The present invention provides that a sliding sleeve with an internal groove is slid over a concealed attachment bush having a bead or collar. The attachment bush comprises three anti-friction bearing rings.

[0025] The conventional swing controller includes a telescopic part for setting and fixing the longitudinal axis of an excenter mechanism. This conventional construction does not permit a stepless adaptation in the direction of the longitudinal axis. The procedure required conventionally, includes fixation, release, fixation.

[0026] The cylinder part according to the present invention is pressed into the lower end of the telescope part and is furnished with a groove. An O-ring is seated on the groove. This construction allows for an optimum adaptation in the direction of the longitudinal axis. In addition, a strong inertia effect of the telescope part is thereby furnished based on a gas damping effect.

[0027] The improved construction of the telescope part allows to completely remove the telescope part. This further allows to apply an auxiliary apparatus of a particular kind. According to the present invention an old golf club is cut off at a position about 20 centimeters below the handle. The golf club is furnished with an adapter rubber band and is plugged into the main part of the swing controller. This kind of auxiliary apparatus is excellently equipped for the small beat training, wherein the back side of the right hand is not to be rolled over.

[0028] The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0029] In the accompanying drawing, in which are shown several of the various possible embodiments of the present invention:

[0030]FIG. 1 is an in part sectional view of a conventional swing controller;

[0031]FIG. 2 is an in part sectional view of the attachment bush according to the present invention;

[0032]FIG. 3 is a sectional view through an antifriction bearing ring;

[0033]FIG. 4 is an in part sectional view of the club face scale;

[0034]FIG. 5 is an in part sectional view of the sliding sleeve according to the present invention;

[0035]FIG. 6 is an in part sectional view of the telescoping part according to the present invention;

[0036]FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the main cylinder according to the present invention;

[0037]FIG. 8 is an in part sectional view of a swing controller according to the present invention;

[0038]FIG. 9 is an in part sectional view of a swing controller according to the present invention having an attachment in place of the telescoping part of FIG. 8;

[0039]FIG. 10 is an in part sectional view of a swing controller according to the present invention having an attachment in place of the telescoping part of FIG. 8;

[0040]FIG. 11 is a view of a schematic diagram illustrating erroneous positions of a golf club;

[0041]FIG. 12 is a view of a schematic diagram illustrating a correct position of a golf club.

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION AND PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0042] In general, the swing controller comprises three parts: an attachment part for attachment to the handle 8 of the golf club, a main part 1 including a main cylinder 7 with spike 27 and supporting three antifriction bearing rings 2 and club face scale 4, and a telescope part 13 including a telescoping cylinder 29 with groove 19 and O-ring 9 disposed at a lower end of the telescope part and a positioning part 12 for check points for indicating the position of the club and disposed at the upper end of the telescope part. The telescope part 13 is extendable and allows adaptation to short golf clubs, to medium golf clubs and to long golf clubs.

[0043] An extended axis 21 of the club shank 14 is produced by attaching the swing controller onto the end 28 of the club handle 8. This renders possible and produces an effective, visual control for all axial planes.

[0044] The swing controller comprises a main part 1 and threefold supported antifriction bearing rings 2 disposed on the main part 1. The antifriction bearing rings 2 are disposed inside of the attachment bush 3 and on the outside of the main part 1. The attachment part is composed of the attachment bush 3 and the sliding sleeve 6. The attachment part is made of an attachment bush 3 with a sliding sleeve 6 sliding on the outside of the attachment bush 3.

[0045] The faces of the club exhibit a scale 4. The telescoping part 13 is formed by a piston having a groove 19 and an O-ring 9.

[0046] A positioning part 12 for check points is furnished.

[0047] An auxiliary apparatus is present for small beats. An adapter is furnished for a ladies' golf club.

[0048] The present invention provides that a sliding sleeve 6 with an internal groove 36 (FIG. 5) is slid over a concealed attachment bush 3 having a bead or collar 33 (FIG. 2). The attachment bush 3 comprises three anti-friction bearing rings 2. The main part 1 of the swing controller is seated on the attachment bush 3. The bearing rings 2 and 32 are fixed to the attachment bush 3 by a respective pin 10, 40. The bearing ring 42 is fixed to the main part 1 with a pin 5. Furthermore a main cylinder 7 with a thorn 27 is pressed into the lower end of the main part 1. The main cylinder 7 with the thorn 27 is introduced into the hole 34 of the handle 8. The main cylinder 7 is made of elastic, resilient material for clamping onto the end of a golf club grip. The hole 34 is disposed in the mass of the club handle 8, wherein the mass of the club handle is preferably made of a plastic and forms an inner collar 44 covering the end of the club shank 14. The main part 1 has to deliver the centering and the strengthening of the swing controller.

[0049] A cylinder part 29 according to the present invention is pressed into the lower end of the telescope part 13 and is furnished with a groove 19. An O-ring 9 is seated on the groove 19. This construction allows for an optimum adaptation in the direction of the longitudinal axis 21. In addition, a strong inertia effect of the telescope part is thereby furnished based on a gas damping effect.

[0050] The improved construction of the telescope part allows to completely remove the telescope part. This further allows to apply an auxiliary apparatus of a particular kind. According to the present invention an old golf club is cut off at a position about 20 centimeters below the handle. The golf club is furnished with an adapter rubber band and is plugged into the main part of the swing controller. This kind of auxiliary apparatus is excellently equipped for the small beat training, wherein the back side of the right hand is not to be rolled over.

[0051] These so-called control points of the individual phases are of particular importance for the individual phases, for the motion analysis, for the motion correction and for automatically producing the proper motion.

[0052] The position of the club shank A-B-C-D and the position of the club blade:

[0053] open-neutral (square)-closed

[0054] yellow-green-red

[0055] are responsible for the flight path or the alignment of the flight direction of straight directed and of leftward deviating or, respectively, rightward deviating golf balls as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

[0056] The position B in FIG. 11 shows an erroneous position, where the upswing was overdrawn.

[0057] The position C in FIG. 11 shows an erroneous position, where the upswing was not finished.

[0058] The position D in FIG. 11 shows an erroneous slice position, where the face of the club is open.

[0059] The position E in FIG. 11 shows an erroneous hook position, where the face of the club is closed.

[0060] The position A in FIG. 12 shows a correct position of the golf club directed toward the goal. The face of the club is square.

[0061] In addition it is possible to exactly determine the position of the club blade by rotating of the rotation plane of the club face scale of the golf ZX swing controller according to the color scheme set forth above.

[0062] Adapter caps are furnished for adapting to the much smaller ladies' handles.

[0063] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of sport system configurations and ball hitting procedures differing from the types described above.

[0064] While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in the context of a swing controller for golf clubs, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

[0065] Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention. 

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent is set forth in the appended claims.
 1. A swing visualizing and controlling device for allowing to correct swinging and holding of a golf club comprising an attachment part for attachment to a handle of a golf club; a main part including a main cylinder with a spike for engaging a shank of a golf club, three antifriction bearing rings disposed on the main cylinder, a club face scale slidingly disposed on the main cylinder; a telescope part having a lower end and having an upper end including a telescoping cylinder having a groove disposed at the lower end of the telescope part, an O-ring seated in the groove; a positioning part for check points for indicating the position of the club and disposed at the upper end of the telescope part.
 2. The swing visualizing and controlling device according to claim 1, further comprising means for extending furnished at the telescoping part for allowing adaptation of the device to short golf clubs, to medium golf clubs and to long golf clubs.
 3. The swing visualizing and controlling device according to claim 1, wherein the main cylinder is attachable to the end of a golf club grip, which main cylinder, in its attached state, forms a rigid axial extension of the golf club.
 4. The swing visualizing and controlling device according to claim 1, further comprising a pin for attaching one of the three antifriction bearing rings to the main cylinder.
 5. The swing visualizing and controlling device according to claim 1, further comprising a second pin for attaching one of the three antifriction bearing rings to the attachment bush.
 6. The swing visualizing and controlling device according to claim 1, further comprising a sliding sleeve disposed surrounding the attachment bush.
 7. The swing visualizing and controlling device according to claim 6, further comprising an inner groove ring disposed on an inside face of the sliding sleeve.
 8. The swing visualizing and controlling device according to claim 1 further comprising an outer ring collar surrounding the attachment bush.
 9. The swing visualizing and controlling device according to claim 1, wherein the telescoping cylinder slides inside the main cylinder. 